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The SCDOT and Norfolk Southern Railroad announced Friday that the Hampton Avenue Bridge over Norfolk Southern railroad tracks in Greenville is scheduled to be removed by Norfolk Southern by Aug. 30.

This bridge, which has spanned the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks since 1928, is being removed due to its deteriorated condition.

In a 1998 agreement, Norfolk Southern and SCDOT agreed that SCDOT would take ownership of the bridge, but included the requirement that the railroad would remove the bridge at its expense once SCDOT determined the bridge needed to be removed.

This bridge was closed to vehicle traffic in August 1994 because of its condition, and it is now considered a high risk for failure. SCDOT said a number of I-bars that support the bridge structure have failed, contributing to its deterioration.

Although the bridge was placed in this location in 1928, the SCDOT said it is understood that Norfolk Southern moved the bridge from a different location, and the structure dates to around 1900.

The SCDOT said the bridge's fracture-critical condition could cause it to fail at any time.

The SCDOT said despite numerous attempts to keep pedestrians off the bridge, local residents have continued to walk across it. The SCDOT said because of pedestrian use, the bridge is very unsafe to use and must be removed immediately.

Alternate pedestrian access is available on the Pete Hollis Bridge over Norfolk Southern railroad tracks, adjacent to the Hampton Avenue Bridge.

The bridge's removal will introduce a 1-mile detour to pedestrian traffic.

"Well, really I hate it," said A.K. Kennedy, who lives close to the bridge and said he crosses it frequently. "Now we've got to walk all the way around just to get to the store," he said.

There has been some discussion about the possibility of erecting a pedestrian bridge in the old bridge's place, but the SCDOT said a funding source and a local sponsor would need to be identified since SCDOT would want a local government entity to assume ownership and maintenance of the structure.

Greenville city council member Lillian Brock Fleming said she and some other elected officials have been pushing to build a replacement bridge for several years.

"There are a lot of people who do not have cars in this community, and (the bridge) is a way for them to get home," Fleming said. She also said that the detour across Pete Hollis Boulevard is a dangerous distance to walk during summer heat.

"We would like a vehicular bridge, but that's not possible," she said. "A pedestrian bridge would really help the community greatly"

Several neighbors supported the idea of a foot bridge across the railroad tracks.

"It would be great, and it would be a whole lot safer," said Robbie Williams, who lives in an apartment complex in the county side of the bridge.

Fleming said the biggest obstacle to building a new bridge is money. She said a pedestrian bridge would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to build.